A-Z Challenge
My theme is herbs
D is for Dandelion
The lowly, much
maligned dandelion,
scorned and
poisoned by most
home owners, is
"King of Medical
Cures."
The plant first
appeared in the
10th century
medical journals
of Arabian
physicians. Today health food stores sell dandelion greens in the
"salad greens" department. Whenever I can find them, I juice the
leaves. Years ago I used to pick my own from vacant fields but
it's not safe to harvest your own as now as most are satuated with
poison.
Medical Uses: Dandelion is a powerful cleanser of the liver
and it has excellent affects on the kidneys, spleen, stomach,
pancreas, gallbladder (increases bile production) and it is
one of the best herbs for building up the blood.
Dandelion tea bags are sold in health food stores. A good
idea to make this your morning tea.
They also make up THE favorite flower bouquet for mom's everywhere. :)
ReplyDeleteRosey
DeleteFor sure. There is nothing sweeter than when your child comes into the house with their little sticky dandelion hands, presenting Mom with a yellow bouquet of newly picked dandelion flowers. That is the essence of true love.
And I laughed at your description because it really is true. :)
DeleteI have been seeing them everywhere around here Manzi!!
ReplyDeleteKeith
DeleteYou can be sure all the dandelions in the city or close to country roads reek of poison. If one hikes deep into the woods, those may still be safe.
I've been meaning to try this one, my health food store has it as loose leaf tea as well as teabags. I need to buy a teapot.
ReplyDeleteI had a friend years ago who used to drink a dandelion coffee but I don't remember what it was called.
River
ReplyDeleteI would love to be able to buy it in bulk at our health food store. Never heard of the coffee but it sounds interesting. It seems our Health food store is going to packaging more and more. In one way I can understand this. Althought I prefer bulk, I saw a mother letting her kids run wild in the store and one kid had his dirty little hands running throught a bin of trail mix. Here I go on a small rant..... What is wrong with some mothers????? I never would have allowed that nor I'm sure neither would you. It's too bad a few selfish people have to spoil it for everyone.
I did it again..... digression. I always have a box of dandelion tea in my cupboard.
Our "loose" tea is packaged in boxes of so many grams as opposed to boxes of teabags. It isn't loose in bins for people to help themselves. I'd be horrified at a kid, or anyone, running their hands through bulk bins of stuff.
DeleteCuriouser & curiouser! :)) Manzi, I long time neglected Dandelion as something that can be eaten, though I knew it is. Only last summer we decided to add it to salads. In proper amount it gives some pleasant acerbity. Also I tried some dandelion honey, was very very nice!
ReplyDeleteCould you share your fav dandelion tea recipe too?
Zara
DeleteCuriouser and curiouser.... you're just like Alice :) The greens are the very best for your liver. I buy them whenever I see them at the store. So glad you're eating them too. Never heard of dandelion honey. They must have bees surrounded by patches of dandelion. Oh .... how good would that be for you.... of yeah, honey is the most perfect food and then to add the dandelion. WOW. I usually buy the tea bags and just add hot water. I laughed, when I went to my apartment that my son has for me, there was a box of dandelion tea bags. Ha
I bet the ones out at my parent's farm are safe.
ReplyDeleteJay
DeleteThat would be a stroke of luck.... if they don't spray or the county. That poison drifts, too. Years ago I used to send the kids out on our lawn to pick the flowers (long before all the sprays) and I always made wine. Also with the red clover. Those two always made the very best wine.
Sounds like many of these herbs can be found as teas. I went through a tea phase and then quit it. Sounds like it might be a healthy thing to start drinking some of these herbal teas again...
ReplyDeleteRobin
DeleteSo many people drink black or green tea or something that tastes sweet but why not drink one of the teas that heals one or more of the organs. I have the biggest stash of tea you've prob ever seen. I''ve always done dandelion for the liver. Lately I'm on a Pau D'arco and Hyssop kick too. If it's a bitter tea, you can always add a tad of honey.
Good theme you have for A/Z. I didn't realize how good dandelions were for the body! I know years ago my uncle made dandelion wine that was tasty.
ReplyDeletebetty
betty
DeleteGood days when you could use the dandelions right in your own yard. Not any more, sadly.
I knew it was a good herb, I just didn't realize HOW good. Plus, whenever I think of dandelions I think of Ray Bradbury's beautiful classic story, Dandelion Wine.
ReplyDeleteBish
DeleteAnd it really does make great win. But now you have to go far away to get away from the spray. I used to send the kids out in the yard to pick the flowers for wine.
Hi Manzanita .. Dandelion wine and tea I know .. and I was think Dock was related .. but it's not .. that was good for calming stinging nettle stings! Another D but not related to Dandelion ..
ReplyDeleteHerbs are fascinating .. thanks for share so much info and lore - cheers Hilary
Hilary
DeleteI alway think of you as knowing a great deal about herbs, You seem to retain all you've ever heard. I forget it.
I was once told I had an edible yard, Dandelions just one of the many edibles. Still haven't tried any.
ReplyDeletePatti
DeleteI remember seeing a documentary, years ago, of a woman who only ate grass right from her yard. She looked healthy to me
Never knew it did all of that and to think as a kid I had fun squashing them flat haha a good one to look into indeed at my feed. We'll see what monday brings though with my test after speaking to you know.
ReplyDeletePat
DeleteYou're a squisher. I remember we used to put them under someone's chin to see who they loved.... we were real little or something lie that. A very long time ago. Ha Let me know.
The beauty of dandelions captivates me.
ReplyDeleteJulia
DeleteI think it proves a point that too much of something makes it dreaded.... or whatever. They do multiply fast....as in over night. But individually they are unique.
I heard the power of them was helpful
ReplyDeleteHoly Ghost
DeleteThey really are a very powerful herb
Sounds like good advice. How does it taste?
ReplyDeleteC Lee
DeleteMostly bitter but I'm one who will take the vilest thing in the name of good health. And most of the herbs don't taste very well.
Dandelion greens are the most bitter (bitterest?) food I've ever eaten. Shudder. And, one of my favorite foods is bittermelon. Dandelions are definitely an acquired taste. I ought to try them again cause I can use help with my liver. Yes, I'll be brave. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe View from the Top of the Ladder
Susieee
DeleteI love bittermelon too. I don't think they are so very bitter. I've always been able to eat any icky thing in the name of good health/
they are all over my yard
ReplyDeleteAdam
DeleteYour yard is one big salad bowl.... just waiting. Ha
We stopped weeding dandelions years ago. It seemed to be the only flower that grew well in a water shortage. Love them.
ReplyDeleteThis is one that I have heard of but dandelion tea just doesn't taste as good as real tea and I'm so bad at drinking stuff I don't enjoy. Maybe I'll try a few leaves in the salad when they appear in our garden. At least I'll know they have not insecticide on them here!
ReplyDeleteWasn't Dandelion root used for coffee during the depression? I think my Mom told me that.
ReplyDeleteHaving issues with my digestion lately. This sounds like something I could use...
ReplyDeleteThe first time I ever ate a dandelion was with my grandfather, who knew they were good in salads...!
ReplyDelete